Bttssell hoopes



R. HOOPES.

WHEEL.

Armcmou mso ma. 2| ms.

1,3 1 O, 189. Patented July 15, 1919.

RUSSELL HOOPES, F WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHEEL.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed April 2, 1918. Serial No 226,184.

To all whom it may Concern.'

Be it known that I, RUSSELL HooPEs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of West Chester, county of Chester, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of wheel which may be adapted to commercial motor wagons or to military uses, such as for wheels of artillery, and havin strength and durability coupled with special adaptability for speedy and easy repairs, when required because of broken spokes.

It frequently happens at the battle front, that wheels of guns and vehicles of all kinds are injured by shell fire, rendering the gun or vehicle inoperative when otherwise uninjured; and it is to remedy this condition, that the special construction embodying my invention, is directed. The wheel is so constructed that the outer ends of the spokes seat in metal sockets provided upon the inner surface of a metallic or other felly or rim so as to be held against radial spreading while the hub ends of the spokes are tapered and spaced equidistant apart by keys driven in between them, said keys being preferably wit-hout material taper, the sai several hub portions forming an annular disk which is adapted to be clamped between the metallic flange portions of the usual aXle bearings. After moving the broken wheel from the metallic hub flanges, the keys upon opposite sides of the broken spoke are driven out and the injured spoke removed and replaced, after which, the new keys are driven in to position the spokes;

and finally, the metallic hub flanges are again secured in place; all of which may be accomplished inV the open field and in a short space of time.

My invention also consists of improvements hereinafter described whereby the above objects and results are attained, said improvements comprisin certain organization and combination o parts which are full described hereinafter and more particu arly defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of one-half a wheel embodying my invention, a ortion bein in section for more clearly :illustrating t e outer support for the spokes; Fig. 2, is cross sectional view of my improved wheel; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the spoke sockets on a larger scale; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the wooden keys.

2 are the spokes and are preferably of uniform thickness in the plane of the wheel, the outer ends 4 being circular or oval in cross section, whereas the hub end 3 is made flat on the sides and with tapered dat surfaces 3 perpendicular to the plane of the Wheel and also having their length arranged more or less radially. In transverse section, the spoke has parallel sides at the hub end 3 and may be somewhat tapered to the outer or socket end 4 (Fi 2). It will be observed that the tapered surfaces 3 do not have their planes pass through the axis of wheel, but are so shaped that adjacent tapered surfaces of adjacent spokes are substantially parallel, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1. These tapered ends of the spokes are spaced apart uniformly and are tightly positioned by the s acing and locking keys 5 which are prefera ly of hard wood and of substantially uniform cross section along the radial direction, as will be more fully understood by reference to Figs. l and 4. The spokes 2 are desirably somewhat wider at the hub ends 3 than at the outer or socket ends 4 (Fig. 2), but it will be noted that the radial sides in the plane of the Wheel terminate at the outer ends of the tapered portions 3 and there are therefore no flaring or curved portions to split oil' as provided in spokes as usually constructed. By reason of this construction, the inward radial thrust along the spokes is directed immediately upon the tapered portions 3L as they are Within the normal Width of the spoke bodies. In other words, the maximum Width of the taper portion 3 of the spokes is approximately the normal width of the s oke body 2, so that there is a alziimum spo te strength right down to the The rim 7 is desirably of rolled channel iron bent into a ring and welded, or formed of cast metal, as preferred. It may be strengthened by the inwardly directed anges 8. The inner surface of the rim receives the ends 4 of the spokes as at 13 and, as has been explained, these ends are of large cross section and therefore excellently adapted to receive the hammer blows upon the rim when the wheel is in action on rough roads. As the wooden ends of the spokes are not received in sockets in the rim itself,

`which is smaller `than the normal diameter of the end 4 of the spoke and the entrance to the socket is ta ered as at 12, Fig. 3. Whenthe end 4 o the spoke is driven or forcedfinto the socket opening 10 the ta ered entrance 12 thereof compresses the Wo and makes a very tight fit.

In assembling the wheel structure, the spokes are all forcedfor driven into their respective sockets and brought into the same planeland thereafter the keys 5 are inserted and driven or ipressed home tightly. The sockets 9 `on the continuous metal rim receive `the outward thrustof the spokes when the keys 5 are driven radially outward and prevent relative displacement of the spokes during assembling; said sockets are, fui'- thermore,` the immediate means for positioning the tapered ends of the spokes in proper radial alinement. If desired, the keys 5 when being driven into position may be glued in place to maintain theassembled relation during shipment, though I have not found -it necessary to employ glue as the spokes and keys are sufficiently retained in `firm `relative positions, byfriction especially becauseof the very smalltaper employed in said keys and in use, the clamping action of the usual-metal fianges of theaxle hub and box positively holds the hub .portions composed of said spokes-andkeys, but sai-d axle hub-and box however forming no portion of my.invention. The use of glue is not precluded but on the otherhand is not considered necessary, nor evenof material, advantage-except sofar as it mayact as afiller in hardening the W-ood'surface in contact under compression. The-disadvantage ofthe use of-glueis in not permitting repairs to be so easily made as in case Where-no glu-e is elnploved. *When-the hub spokes and Vkeys-are 1n final position theinner-aperture 6 may be turned orireamedout tdmakethe hole true to insure-a closefit to the metal axle box.

Referrin vtothe-socketcastings 9, it will be noted jiat f the 4flanges 14 thereof are curved to fit the inner curvature of rimfwith 'the object of amaking a strong 'connection and Ialso i one which is easily madey Water tight to -protect the -ends of the fwooden spokes. It will also be seen that the shallowness lof the sockets 10 enables=the spokes 2,150

-be inserted and'easily forced into place. The -vspacebetween the'tapered' ends o the spokes Willpermit all 'of the spokes to-be placed in osition relatively to the sockets and then, l y use of suitable expanding mandrel be simultaneously vforced radially outward and firmly into their respective sockets until their ends rest against the rim, as shown.

While the rim and sockets are separate and riveted together, they may be formed integral When cast steel is used for the rim and I therefore do not confine myself in this respect. It Will also be understood that while no tapers to the keys 5 are required, nevertheless a very slight taper may be emplc'yed if desired.

he rim 7 may run directly upon the ground or may be provided With any suitable rubber or other tire or shoe portion, as preferred, it being immaterial to my invention as to what nature of tread portion may be employed.

It will novi7 be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advnntageenumerated as desirable, and While I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details, as the same are susceptible of modification in various `particulars Without departing from the spirit or `scope of the invention.

Having now described my inventiomyvhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. AIn a Wheel, a rim, combined with spokes fitted to theirim and having their hub ends tapered anderranged in a circle in the plane ofthe Wheel, the adjacent tapered surfaces of adjacent spokes being approximatelyparallel, and keys of approximately the shape of the space between the tapered spoke ends driven radially outward :between ,the said tapered surfaces of the adjacent spokes to positionthem and make a rigidhub body at the inner ends of the spokes.

2. In awheel, a rim, combined With spokes fitted thereto and having their huby endstapered and arranged in a circlen-the lane of the Wheel and the'adjacent tapersJ surfaces eonsiderably separated, and with a Width of separation at,the inner-,hubopening equal to the maximumseparation inf-the tapered spoke ends, and keys insertedl between Athe 4.tapered surfaces of the adjacent spokes, a portion of said keys drivenvradially outward to position `#thewspokes l,and make a rigid hub body.

Inftestimony i of which iinvention, I ,hemeunto set my hand.

.RUSSELL HOQBES.

mesfo! thu-went maymawhtahed-itamve,nentsleahifby addressing the .Gammupieper-,nflatenta ,wlhinml mdc. 

